Novel roles for erythroid Ankyrin-1 revealed through an ENU-induced null mouse mutant.

Abstract

Insights into the role of ankyrin-1 (ANK-1) in the formation and stabilization of the red cell cytoskeleton have come from studies on the nb/nb mice, which carry hypomorphic alleles of Ank-1. Here, we revise several paradigms established in the nb/nb mice through analysis of an N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced Ank-1-null mouse. Mice homozygous for the Ank-1 mutation are profoundly anemic in utero and most die perinatally, indicating that Ank-1 plays a nonredundant role in erythroid development. The surviving pups exhibit features of severe hereditary spherocytosis (HS), with marked hemolysis, jaundice, compensatory extramedullary erythropoiesis, and tissue iron overload. Red cell membrane analysis reveals a complete loss of ANK-1 protein and a marked reduction in beta-spectrin. As a consequence, the red cells exhibit total disruption of cytoskeletal architecture and severely altered hemorheologic properties. Heterozygous mutant mice, which have wild-type levels of ANK-1 and spectrin in their RBC membranes and normal red cell survival and ultrastructure, exhibit profound resistance to malaria, which is not due to impaired parasite entry into RBC. These findings provide novel insights into the role of Ank-1, and define an ideal model for the study of HS and malarial resistance.

• Authors: Gerhard Rank, Rosemary Sutton, Vikki Marshall, Rachel J Lundie, Jacinta Caddy, Tony Romeo, Kate Fernandez, Matthew P McCormack, Brian M Cooke, Simon J Foote, Brendan S Crabb, David J Curtis, Douglas J Hilton, Benjamin T Kile, Stephen M Jane
• Journal: Blood (Blood) Vol. 113 Issue 14 Pg. 3352-62 (Apr 02 2009) ISSN: 1528-0020 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19179303 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Ank1 protein, mouse
• Ankyrins
• Carcinogens
• Ethylnitrosourea

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Ankyrins (genetics, metabolism, physiology)
• Base Sequence
• Carcinogens
• Cytoskeleton (genetics, pathology)
• DNA Mutational Analysis
• Erythrocytes (drug effects, pathology)
• Erythrocytes, Abnormal (pathology)
• Erythroid Cells (metabolism)
• Erythropoiesis (genetics, physiology)
• Ethylnitrosourea
• Hematologic Neoplasms (chemically induced, genetics, pathology)
• Hemolysis (drug effects, genetics)
• Malaria (genetics, veterinary)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Mice, Knockout
• Molecular Sequence Data